Alabama State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Alabama State University charges a net price of $20,435/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $81,740. Median earnings ten years after entry are $34,502, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Alabama State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #42 of 54 Alabama colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,435/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $81,740 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $34,502 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$13,858/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $31,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$358,900 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Alabama State University's own numbers. Net price $20,435 × 4 years = $81,740 total. Median earnings $34,502 fall $13,858 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $81,740 bill in about 8.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Alabama State University students graduate with?
A median $31,000 in federal loans among completers, or 90% of the $34,502 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Alabama State University students graduate?
30% finish their degree — 70% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $81,740 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $272,467 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Alabama State University expensive compared with other Alabama colleges?
Its $20,435 net price runs $5,867 above the $14,569 median across the 54 Alabama colleges we profile, or $23,466 more across the full degree.